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NATO moves to strengthen cyber-defences

(dpa)
- In April 2007, Estonia's computer servers were hit by a massive series of
targeted cyber-attacks that came close to crippling the country's banks and
government services.

At a summit ending on Friday in the
Romanian city of Bucharest, NATO acknowledged the growing threat that this form
of third- millennium warfare poses.

In a concluding declaration at the
Bucharest Summit, NATO leaders for the first time formally committed themselves
to "strengthening key alliance information systems" and rush to each
other's defence in case of a cyber attack.

NATO officials were tasked with
developing the necessary "structures and authorities" to carry this
out while improving the sharing of best practices and expertise in the field
with member states.

In the event, Estonia's firewalls
successfully withstood the 2007 attack, which was blamed on Russian hackers,
and its centre for cyber-defence in Tallinn is now much admired around the
world.

In the coming months, several NATO
allies and Estonia are to set up a Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in
Tallinn.

NATO officials say the alliance has no
desire to interfere in the competences of individual nation states.

But they insist NATO as an organization
has the duty to protect sensitive targets such as financial and communication
centres and that it has "much to contribute" in this field.

The NATO initiative will bring together
civilian and military experts, set up common protocols, train anti-hackers and
hold seminars on cyber-attacks.

"If one of our allies comes under
attack, we need to be prepared," a NATO official said.